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Antivenin for Vampires - Susan G. Charles

hunted...

Chapter 1

OLIVIA STEPHENSON LOOKED around her camp bitterly. It was small and they often struggled for food and supplies but she still considered herself lucky. They were at a comfortable distance from larger cities which kept them away from constant assault from the Vampires and the University of Middlebury. She knew that sometimes a Vampire or a few found its way to the area but the last six months treated them kindly.

It took their group a long time to find a place as quiet and reasonably safe as this one, and this had been the longest they had ever managed to stay in one place. Since she was a young girl she remembered having to constantly run from place to place. She certainly did not miss that part of her childhood... There were parts of it she did miss... that was something she would prefer not to think about.

She sighed and walked to the small market square where locals gathered. Despite its basic appearance Olivia was rather proud of their small camp. They managed to even build a couple of huts for community usage and there was a small inn in an abandoned building in the center, the camp was surrounded by a makeshift wooden wall and the gate was guarded day and night. They hadn't been attacked here but there was no reason to let their guard down.

Olivia sat by the fire that was burning in the center of the camp to provide light and warmth. The sun was slowly disappearing over the horizon painting the sky red and orange. Olivia glanced at the gate anxiously. She wanted to see the scouts as soon as they returned and hear their findings first hand.

Thankfully she didn't have to wait long... the gate opened and four men entered. They were armed with bows, arrows and daggers by their belts which always made Olivia smile bitterly as she saw them. There was a time when they would have carried guns... or so her seniors told her anyway. She made her way to the men and greeted them with a smile.

Found anything interesting other than trees, mud and more trees? She asked teasingly, the youngest of the scouts laughed shortly.

Well, there's squirrels... He began to joke but an older man rolled his eyes up at him and his laughter died under a stern glare as he cleared his throat.

Interesting, no, but we did see something we might want to keep an eye on, if you know what I mean. He told her and pointed at his canines. The older man rolled his eyes again and pushed past him.

Seriously, Marcus, I really hoped you would've grown up by now, he muttered then turned to Olivia with his brow furrowed.

We saw a bunch of city folk. There was only a small group of them but they were scouting the area. They're wanting to settle here, he told her.

The woman's blood ran cold at these words as she swore under her breath. Where? She asked as calmly as she could.

Another man pointed to the east, A few miles that way, relax Livy. We should still be safe here as long as we don't let our guard down. If we get our act together we should be ready to move on within the next few days. We stayed here too long anyway, he told her reassuringly as he flashed her a smile.

Olivia shook her head. No. We shouldn't need to keep our guard up. We shouldn't need to hide and run every time a few of them show up. This isn't how life is supposed to be, Sebastian, she replied through gritted teeth.

The man called Sebastian gave her a long stare. Then what do you expect us to do? We're outnumbered and I'm not sure about you, but I don't like the concept of being a Vampire snack or even turned into one of those things, he told her as he subconsciously touched a vicious scar around his collarbone.

Olivia looked around at the crowd that gathered to hear the news. People's faces showed resignation, fear and pain. Mothers shooed their children into the huts, men put their arms protectively around their women, a few teenage couples hugged tightly for comfort.

Something inside her snapped as she was looking around the group. So... That's it. We're going to cower and hide? Run away every time a couple of fangs flash? She asked angrily.

The young scout called Marcus looked at her for a long while. Got any better ideas, Livy? he asked slowly.

She looked back at him. As a matter of fact I do. We have weapons too. We can defend ourselves and at this moment in time I think the best defense strategy is attack. As you said, there's not many of them here, now, if we just leave it, more will arrive and we will be surrounded and royally screwed. She snapped angrily.

Some people looked at each other and nodded.

Livia... Be rational. We can't just go in and hope for the best. We don't know how many of them there are and what they're armed with. The ones we saw were just a small group of scouts. They weren't talking about their numbers just about whether they have the time to settle. Said Sebastian as he looked at the woman with concern.

Olivia let out an irritated sigh. Then we should watch them closely before we attack. Find out what we need to know and make sure we're well prepared. She told him.

People behind her nodded in agreement.

We can't let them attack us first. We need to nip it in the bud! shouted someone from the gathered crowd.

Sebastian sighed but nodded. Fine. Let's just hope you know what you're doing, Olivia. he said as he looked at her in contemplation.

LATER OLIVIA SAT ON a tree stump sharpening her dagger as she watched Sebastian and Marcus prepare their weapons.

"We're going to set off at the crack of dawn, we'll take a look at their camp,